This Cop was pretty cool

[colmbo]

So how many of you, upon being just warned or even let off, who are claiming great respect for them and those like them, have gone on to do exactly what you were doing when they let you off? And if so, is that respect?

All of them probably, except for those that may have turned away from serious crime.

As a cop I didn't feel "disrespected" because some continued to commit offenses.  I wasn't under the illusion that I was going to change peoples lives, I just hoped to "keep the peace" for my shift, assist those I could and intervene where needed with the others.   

[Rich46yo]

The only thing that turns them away from "serious crime" is prison. If they are there long enough, often enough, by the time they make it to middle age, often they just lose the juice for felony's. Many thieves and burglars never lose the juice for it. Not as long as they are using. The best we can hope for is they OD and save the rest of us from paying their bills from cradle to grave.

But the guy who works his entire life paying taxes and the Bills of society, and whom BTW like us is always getting screwed having to pay for the welfare of the dregs? They do deserve a break for a minor traffic ticket or a minor screw up.

Thats my philosophy at least. A code Ive always lived by.

But forget the concept of rehabilitation for most serious "violent" offenders. It just doesnt happen the vast majority of the time. The only protection we have from them is to keep them in a cage. Maybe when they hit middle age they will lose the energy for crime.

Maybe.

[flight17]

I've only been pulled over once. It was last year on my 21st Birthday. I was coming down a hill with cruise set on 75 in a 55, however 65-70 is normal for most people as the limit had just changed from 65 to 55 about a mile before. They had always sat at the bottom of the hill off the road which also has a bend in it right before an on ramp and thence bridge that crosses the ohio river, but I had not seen them sitting there for months.

Due to it being my 21st birthday, I remember specifically thinking as I crested the top of the hill how it was BS that it was my 21st birthday, I had been up since 6AM for my first job and then was on my way to my second job which I would be at until 12Am or so and not being able to celebrate at all... So I was in a slight daze...

I also failed to noticed that, my speed had also increased to about 80. As I started rounding the bend, I always look off the road to see if they are parked there and sure enough they were. I was able to hit the brake enough to get down to 74 as I passed him. I was also passing another car, whichever as probably doing 70 or so as well...

But after I passed that car and passed the on ramp, I got over into the right lane as I was on the bridge, but I already knew he was coming. As soon as we got off the bridge, he turned the lights on and off I pulled over on the berm of my exit.

He cited me for a failure to obey signage rather than a speeding ticket with points, but it was still a $112 fine. To top it off, my registration (expired) and insurance card was in my room as my mom needed it as I was trying to refinance my car at the time. I didn't even know my registration was expired though. And my license expired the next day, so all in all, I guess he let me off easy, but i was still pissed at him. Never had been pulled over before nor even received a parking ticket or anything.

[Oldman731]

The only thing that turns them away from "serious crime" is prison. If they are there long enough, often enough, by the time they make it to middle age, often they just lose the juice for felony's.

My experience is the reverse.  Prison makes young criminals into better criminals.

Not that I argue against prison, I don't see an alternative. 

- oldman

[AAJagerX]

The only thing that turns them away from "serious crime" is prison. If they are there long enough, often enough, by the time they make it to middle age, often they just lose the juice for felony's. Many thieves and burglars never lose the juice for it. Not as long as they are using. The best we can hope for is they OD and save the rest of us from paying their bills from cradle to grave.

But the guy who works his entire life paying taxes and the Bills of society, and whom BTW like us is always getting screwed having to pay for the welfare of the dregs? They do deserve a break for a minor traffic ticket or a minor screw up.

Thats my philosophy at least. A code Ive always lived by.

But forget the concept of rehabilitation for most serious "violent" offenders. It just doesnt happen the vast majority of the time. The only protection we have from them is to keep them in a cage. Maybe when they hit middle age they will lose the energy for crime.

Maybe.

Lol, you really think they care about prison?  Hell, that's just crime college for the ones that have been there before.  They're just going back for another degree.

[Rich46yo]

Lol, you really think they care about prison?  Hell, that's just crime college for the ones that have been there before.  They're just going back for another degree.

It doesn't matter if they care or not, and some dont, some do. It keeps them off the street away from us decent citizens. And its cheaper too. Consider the resources spent , and the loss, and the heart break, from one simple house burglary.

He cited me for a failure to obey signage rather than a speeding ticket with points, but it was still a $112 fine. To top it off, my registration (expired) and insurance card was in my room as my mom needed it as I was trying to refinance my car at the time. I didn't even know my registration was expired though. And my license expired the next day, so all in all, I guess he let me off easy, but i was still pissed at him. Never had been pulled over before nor even received a parking ticket or anything.

By 21years of age the concept of "personal responsibility" should have settled in. Why on earth would you be pissed at the officer?

[pipz]

Outstanding!      

[Dichotomy]

So how many of you, upon being just warned or even let off, who are claiming great respect for them and those like them, have gone on to do exactly what you were doing when they let you off? And if so, is that respect?

Actually about a year ago I got pulled over doing 63 in a 50 MPH zone.  I honestly didn't know it was 50 mph down that stretch and officer Sanchez wrote me a warning.  In my old home town I'd have gotten a ticket no questions asked and probably a cavity search from the local SS.  Out of gratitude and respect for his deference I do not exceed the speed limit around here.

[Rich46yo]

Actually about a year ago I got pulled over doing 63 in a 50 MPH zone.  I honestly didn't know it was 50 mph down that stretch and officer Sanchez wrote me a warning.  In my old home town I'd have gotten a ticket no questions asked and probably a cavity search from the local SS.  Out of gratitude and respect for his deference I do not exceed the speed limit around here.

Your not supposed to exceed the speed limit because its the Law.

[Dichotomy]

I generally don't anyway.  Now I'm more aware of it

[Widewing]

Your not supposed to exceed the speed limit because its the Law.

Sometimes, exceeding the speed limit isn't why you get stopped. 99% of cops are good guys. Dedicated to the community. Occasionally, you find a real jerk. One such jerk, opened up a huge can of worms, that cost him his career and still reverberates through local law enforcement

Several years ago, a man gets pulled over on the interstate highway and gets a ticket for 59 mph in 55 zone. Driver pleads not guilty. Argues that many cars were going faster than he was... Traffic Judge (typically, a lawyer who can't win in court, begs for county appointment. Now beholden to local politicians) could care less about argument. Convicted.

Driver hires a lawyer and appeals conviction.

Lawyer shows 40 minutes of video over a week long period where County police, including the one who wrote ticket are cruising in traffic on same highway at 70 mph with many other cars. None are stopped. Lawyer grills cop, who cannot explain why he doesn't stop drivers doing 70+, but stopped the defendant for doing 59 mph. Cop looks like a schmuck.

Lawyer claims that his client was singled out for reasons other than speeding.

State argues that this is nonsense. This opens door for lawyer to introduce evidence.

Lawyer says he will prove that defendant was stopped then and had been stopped again later, simply because he was driving a red late model Mustang GT. Lawyer presents video from a commercial in-car camera. Defendant installed this at lawyer's behest. He was stopped weeks later, same highway, by a different cop. As they stop, driver's wife calls lawyer on cell phone. Cop sees wife on cell phone, demands she hang up. Lawyer hears the conversation, tells her to hang up. Lawyer calls Deputy Police Chief. This time, driver was accused of doing 70 in a 55, but the in-car camera showed that he never exceeded 55 mph. Unaware of camera, cop writes ticket for 68 mph in 55 mph zone, claims to be giving driver a break. Cop asked to search car. Driver said no. Cop threatened to detain him and get a warrant. Driver said, "please do". Second cop stops. They try to browbeat driver into complying. He demands that they arrest him or let him go. Cops handcuff him and throw him into patrol car. Perform illegal search of driver's car. They find nothing illegal. They do find in-car camera. They demand driver erase video. Driver refuses. Cops decide to take camera, but Police supervisor arrives and takes charge. Driver is released. Ticket disappears. Bad news for two cops.... Lawyer is former county ADA, has excellent connections in DA and Police.

State argues video proves nothing, that speeding is speeding, and that is the only measure.

Judge disagrees. Judge admonishes police for obvious pattern of behavior and profiling. States that because the police seldom enforce the posted speed limit (stated he sees this every day himself), that the speed limit is, defacto, that speed which is actually enforced. The Judge stated that it appears that it must be something in excess of 70 mph. Reverses conviction.

That's not all of the story....

Both officers involved with recorded traffic stop are suspended, first one without pay. There is a pending lawsuit against county police and specific officers. First officer is fired. Union elects not intervene after video is shown. None of this ever makes local newspapers.

County Supervisor pulls County Police from highways. Hands over enforcement to County Sheriff. County agrees to 10 year deal with Sheriff's union on highway enforcement.  Sheriff Department wins two national awards for highway safety and accident reduction by strictly enforcing speed limit, Texting and seatbelt laws. Last year, new county supervisor elected with police union support. Reinstates County Police on highway enforcement. Accidents go up, average speeds go up, number of fatalities go up accordingly. Sheriff Union had sued County. Judge says that County is bound by contract to put Sheriff back on highways. County appeals. Loses again. Sheriff expected to resume highway enforcement on June 1. Police having hissy fits... Will need to turn in riding trousers and jack boots for standard uniform.

Note that "County Police" only serves half of the county. Five towns combined police forces in 1960s to reduce costs. Four other unaffiliated "town" police departments serve balance. Sheriff has jurisdiction everywhere. There is a growing movement to combine all police forces under Sheriff Department. Police unions are strongly resisting. Why? Because of foolish arbitration agreement, County cop makes $102,000 after 2 years. Average Deputy Sheriff earns $88,000 after 5 years.

[Hajo]

Great story....even greater police officer.